Bail wat switch and signal interlocking apparatus



(No Model.) 7 3 Sheets+Sheet 1.

- H. F. 00X.

RAILWAY SWITCH AND SIGNAL INTERLOGKING APPARATUS.

No. 336,701. Patented Feb. 23, 1886.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

H. F. 00X, RAILWAY SWITCH AND SIGNAL INTERLOGKING APPARATUS.

No. 336,701. Patented Feb.- 23 1886.

N PETERS. FlwwLiAhn m hun wnsmn um. D. c.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets'Sheet 3.

H. P. 00X. RAILWAY SWITCH AND SIGNAL INTERLOGKING APPARATUS.

Patented Feb. 23, 1886.

N. vrrzas. PhnlcLithngl-apher. Waihinglon. n. c.

h UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY F. COX, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY SWITCH AND SIGNAL INTERLOCKING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 336,701. dated February 23, 1886.

Serial No. 160,045. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY F. COX, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Railway Switch and Signal Interlocking Devices, of which the following is a full and true description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

In the switch and signal interlocking devices heretofore in .use the interlocking of the switches, locks, and signals has in general been effected in a frame or frames at the signal tower or point of operation, and independent actuating levers and connections have, as a rule, been provided for each signal.

The object of my invention is to simplify and cheapen the construction expenses of such interlocking systems, and to render them at the same time easier and simpler in operation. This I accomplish by means of interlocking frames, located in any convenient places in the connection, or at the foot of the signal-posts. Through or into each of these frames pass all of the switch facing-point lock or signal connections, which are elements of or relate to the route governed by the corresponding signalpost,each connection or element being attached to and directly actuating one or more of the locking-bars of the frame. These lockingbars are so arranged with respect to the flops which actuate the signals on the posts that the signal is locked to danger until all of the elements arein proper position, when the flop is released and the signal falls to safety, while, on the other hand, the moving of any one of the elements out of the proper position will restore the signal to the danger position. As will be seen, by thus distributing the frames I am enabled to give the proper signals without the use of any independent signal levers or connections; or a single lever and line of connection may be used to'actnate a series of signals on one or more posts. Two such levers and connecting-lines-one in each direction--wi1l, as a rule, be sufficient to en able the operator to govern the signalsto the same extent as in the older systems, where each signal is operated by an independent lever.

\ Vhere it is desired, in connection with my system of interlocking switches with signals, to further interlock switches with each other, this last interlocking can best be accomplished at the lever-frame in the switch-house, as is now the custom.

Reference being now had to the drawings,

in which Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a ground plan i frames. Fig. 8, Sheet 3, is an enlarged view of one of the locking-dogs.

A is the signalmans or. operators cabin.

B B, &c., are signal-posts and interlocking frames.

O D E F G H I are lines of pipe or other devices for transmitting motion from the cabin to the different parts or elements of the sys tem.

J J J" are switch-connections.

K K K are switch-locks.

L is the base-plate of theinterlocking frame.

M is thejournalbearing for the rockers or flops.

N is the rocker or flop, having a lever-arm, a, and a broad arm, a. It is also provided with journals a.

O are the interlocking bars of the frames.

P are the interlocking dogs.

Q Q are rods actuating the signals.

R R are the signals.

S S S Sheet 3, are levers centrally pivoted at T T, and pivoted at their ends to sliding bars 0.

In each of my interlocking frames 1 place as many rockers or flops N as there are signals on the post. These flops turn freely on their journals a, and are connected with the rods 1, which actuate the signals bym'eans of their lever-arms n. The broad arms a of the flops N extend downward and across the base plate L. On suitable bearings at the bottom of the base-plates L bars 0 extend longitudinally across it. Each of these bars is connected with and moved by the line of pipe or other actuating device, by means of which the switch, facing-point lock, or other element of the system is actuated, and, as shown in the drawings, one such bar may be actuated solely by a signal-lever at the switchmans cabin. Secured to and extending upward from each of the bars 0 are the locking-dogs P, each so arranged with respect to the broad arm n of one of the flops N that when moved forward with the 'bar' O. to which it is" attached, it presses against the arm n and causes the flop N to turn on its journals, and by means of its lever-arm n and the attached rod Q move the signal to danger and keep it there until the bar and locking dog are withdrawn.

Each of the elements of the route governed by any one signal is connected with one of the bars 0, and by means of lockingdogs P acts upon one of the flops N in such a manner that itis securely locked to danger by one or more of the dogs until all of the elements are in proper position, when the flop is either at once released, permitting the signal to fall to safety, or is locked simply by the dog actuated by the signal-lever-in the cabin, and allowed to fall to safety when said levervis moved. 1

Fig. 1 of the drawings illustrates my improved system as applied to a main track having three switches, each, as usual, provided with locks; and each of these switches and locks is actuated through the usual connections by an independent lever in the switchinaus house, A. From each of these switches and switch-locks connections are made with the interlocking frame B, which governs the diverging signal-post, and each of them is an element of the main'track route, and must be in proper position before the signal governing that route can be allowed to show safety. Each of the switch-actuating connections I, G, and E is therefore eon-- nected with a bar, 0, in the frame B, and each of the faeing-point-lock connections from K, K, and K is also connected with a bar, 0, in this frame, and on each of these six bars 0 locking-dogs P are secured, in such positions with respect to the flop N, which governs the main-track signal, that the signal is locked in its danger position until each of the switches is closed and locked-that is to say, the flop is locked to danger by six lock-dogs, P. The closing of each switch removes one of the locking-dogs, and the locking of each facing-point also removes one of the lockingdogs.

As shown in the drawings, Fig. 1, an additional bar, 0, is introduced into the frame B, and actuated by a separatelever in the switchhouse through the connection D. This is the bar represented by the lower bar, 0, in Fig. 7, Sheet 8, and, as shown in the said drawings, as many locking-dogs P are attached to this bar as there are flops N in the frame. By

means of these locking-dogs each signal is held to danger after all the elements of its route are in proper position, and the position of the signal is thus entirely within the control of the operator.

It is of course evident that the unlocking of any facing-point or opening of any switch will cause the main-track signal at B to be moved and locked to danger.

Three other flops, N, are shown in the frame B. These each relate to the route through-one of the switches, and are governed by dogs P on the bars 0, so placed as to require the route to be properly set and locked before allowing the flop to fall.

Fig. 7 shows aproper arrangement of locking-dogs P to interlock and assure the safety of the routes governed by the four signals at B. As shown in Figs. 1 and 7, the three switches are closed and the main track open; but the three facing-point locks are still open and the main-track signal is consequently locked to danger by the three dogs, P, governed by the facingpoint locks, and by the dog on the bar 0, governed by the special signal-lever I).

Signal B, Fig. 1, has but two connections one from the pipeline I, which controls the switch J, and one from the signal-connection 0. Signal B has connections from I and G, as a train running out on the main track by B would have reference to both of the switches J and J. Signal B has reference to all of the switches, and consequently has connections ICC from I, G, and E. No connections are shown from the facing-point locks to the signalframes B, B B, and B, which all govern converging routes exclusively; and it is not customary to use the facing-point locks in passing a train trailing on the switch.

The pipe-line C, Fig. 1, communicates with a bar, O,in each ofthe converging signal-frames B, B B, and B, and by means of this line the signals governed by these frames are moved from safety to danger, and their position controlled when the elements of the route are in proper position, in the same way that the signals governed by the frame B are controlled by the line D. At a diverging signalpost-such as B, Sheet 1the movement of each switch must affect the locking of at least two of the signals, each relating to one of the two tracks connected by the switch; and it is evident that without some more or less com plicated intermediate interlock'ing between the switch and its facing-point lock, the bar 0, connected with this facingpoint lock, will lock and unlock both of these signals at the same time, and also that where but a single signal-lever and connecting-line D is used to control the position of all of the diverging signals its movement will also simultaneously lock and unlock these two signals. At every such diverging signal=point I therefore provide two bars 0 for each switch, uniting them together by means of centrally-pivoted levers-such as S, S, and S, Figs. 6 and 7.

On one of these bars 0, I place dogs P, arranged to lock those'signals which should be locked when the switch is open, and on the other I place dogs P, arranged to lock those signals which should be locked when the switch is closed. The switch-actuating con nection is securedto one of. these bars 0, and the second bar is of course given a reciprocating motion by means of the lever S; and, as will be at once seen from the drawings, the signals relating to the disconnected routes will necessarily be locked to danger by the same movement of the switch which opens the desired route and unlocks the signal which governs it.

In the drawings I have illustrated my invention in connection with a familiar system of transmitting motion from the actuating le- Vers by means of rocker-shafts, pipes on rollers, bell-cranks, 810.; but it is of course obvious that it may be used as well with any electric, pneumatic, hydraulic, or other method of transmitting power, and electric locking or releasing devices can also be employed as an additional guarantee that the route implied by a signal in its clear position is perfectly set and locked. My device also admits of the use of special or permissive locks, as they are called, which one skilled in the art will readily know how to apply.

It is of course obvious that any desired kind of signal may be used with my invention, the lanterns illustrated in the drawings having no greater relation to it than any other signal.

The interlocking frames with rockers N, bars-O, locking-dogs P, and their attachments, which I have illustrated and described, will be, I believe, most simple and practicable for use in myinterlocking system; but all of these devices may be modified in form andmay be given and made to transmit motion in different ways and by means which, while not illustrated, will readily occur to a n1eehanicas, for instance, the locking-dogs P, instead of being attached to bars 0, as described, might be formed like a bell crank and caused to retate on a pivot, one arm being attached to the actuating connection, while the other as it rose or fell would look or unlock the flop; or rocker lockingbars may also be placed over the flops N in suitable bearings, and thelocking-dogs attached to these bars would extend downward and engage with an upward-extending broad arm, n. This arrangement will be found convenient when a large number of routes are interlocked in a singleframe.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a switch and signal interlocking system, substantially as described, the combination of separate interlocking frames for each signal-point with connections from each switch or facing-point lock, which forms an element of the route or routes governed by said signalpoint, in such a manner that the displacement of any and every element of a route governed by a signal results in looking such signal in its danger position.

2. In a switch and signal interlocking system, substantially described, the combination of separate interlocking frames for each signal-point with connections from each switch or facing-point lock, which forms an element of the route or routes governed by said signalpoint, in such a manner that the position of each signal is automatically controlled by the elements of its route.

3. In a switch and signal interlocking system, substantially as described, the combination of separate interlocking frames for each signal-point with connections from each switch or facing-point lock, which forms an element of the route or routes governed by said signalpoint, in such a manner that the displacement of any element of its route will lock the governing-signal to danger, and an additional connection governing locking-dogs for two or more signals relating to routes in the same direction, and by means or" which the position of such signals is controlled when the routes governed by them are clear.

4. The combination of locking-dogs connected with and governed by the elements of a route, with devices connected to and actuating the signal relating to the route in the way, substantially as shown and described, whereby the displacement of any element of the route indicated by a clear signal will restore the signal to its danger position without the intervention of a special signal connection.

5. In an interlocking system, substantially as described, the combination of a, lockingbar attached to a switch-actuating connection and bearing locking-dogs governing the signals relating to routes opened by one position of the switch, with a second locking-bar bearinglocking-dogs governing the signals relating to routes opened by the other position of the switch by means of a pivoted lever,

whereby the second bar is given a simult-ane ous and opposite movement to that of the first, so that the unlocking of the signal or signals relating to the routes opened by one position of the switch will lock the signals relating to disconnected routes to danger.

6. The combination of a signal or signals, with a rocker or rockers, N, and locking-dogs P, actuated by the elements of the route gov erned by the signals in such a way that each signal will remain locked to danger until all of its elements are in proper position, and will be at once moved from safety to danger, and locked there by the displacement of any such element.

HENRY F. COX.

\Vitnesses:

CHARLES W. Sranrmwn, JOHN \VEAYER. 

